I’m really enjoying what Merlin is doing right now. The new direction of 43Folders, his daily “Most Days” videos, and his othercontentstreams. This is obviously someone who loves what he does and it shows. I’ll miss him on Twitter, but the sheer volume of everything else he produces and shares means I’ll probably not even notice it.

BTW – one of the things I really like about Merlin is that he obviously really likes and respects women – I love the way he talks about his wife, mother-in-law and especially his daughter. It really comes through in a lot in what he does and it adds a lot to my connection to his stuff.

It’s so inspiring to see someone creating so much and enjoying it – makes me want to make great things in a way that I love. Today.

I have a secret…but I totally trust you. I know it’s between us. It’s…hard drives. And that’s not a euphemism.

I love them – all sizes, brands, I never discriminate. But I recently made my first portable purchase, the Western Digital My Passport Essential 320 GB USB 2.0 Portable Hard Drive (in Intense Blue!). The lure of taking my iTunes songs and apps with me was the initial reason, although I’ve started a daily backup of current active files which are transferred to my weekly full backup (on a LaCie Porche Drive) and my monthly full disk backup (WD My Book 500 GB). I also bought a case, which carries the drive and cord, my aircard, headphones, a thumb drive and my iPhone connection cord. All neat and clean.

Of course, like all good addicts, I’m already planning my next hard drive purchase, which is a 1TB Apple Time Capsule (I see it as the final – Really! – purchase). Then I set up Time Machine and I’m done.

I’m not talking about the big picture here – this is not about the election, the economy, etc. While this may have been the catalyst, I don’t care. This here is about about personal change.

43Things is a site that focuses on “building a bigger life” and I’ve used it for about a year – but totally did not get it. What changed was after updating one of my goals (I learned to surf during my last vacation), people responded and shared their own experiences. That was powerful. It made me want to participate in supporting other people’s successes.

For someone who’s actually not had a problem setting and achieving goals – it’s a new perspective where I can do MORE. And more is always good, right?

Here’s what I’m focusing on in 2009:
* Talking less, doing more (inspired by Better – my vote for best post of 2008 )
* Being healthy
* Playing more
* Attack clutter (mind as well as matter)
* Learn the basics of conversational French using Livemocha
* Learn to take better pictures (on film!) with my Diana camera

Some of this change I’ve carried over from 2008, and it’s been incredibly motivating to see change actually take root into new behavior. And I’m allowing myself to be more aggressively curious (which is natural for me), without seeing it as a distraction.

Life is [very] good.

I had originally titled this, “The Year of Significant Change”, but thought better of it. Any change is significant.

37signals started a Facebook Group on Sunday – if you use their products, join and participate. I started a discussion on iPhone apps for Basecamp and would love to get some other feedback (currently – I like Outpost). Or start a new discussion.